There’s a certain kind of actor who becomes a familiar face without ever chasing the spotlight. Peter Phelps is one of them. For decades, he’s been a steady presence on Australian screens—from the sandy shores of Baywatch to the gritty world of Stingers. This article traces his career, family life, and what he’s doing now, drawing on interviews and verified records.

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Born: 20 September 1960 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Known for: Baywatch, Stingers ·
Years active: 1980s–present

Quick snapshot

1Early Life
2Career Highlights
3Personal Life
4Current Activities
  • Continues acting in Australian TV and film
  • Also works as a writer and singer
  • Appeared in the 2022 film ‘The Furnace’

Eight key facts, one pattern: Phelps’s career spans four decades across multiple genres, yet his personal life remains remarkably private.

The career data below shows a performer who moved between international fame and steady local work without losing momentum.

Label Value
Full name Peter Phelps
Date of birth 20 September 1960
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation Actor, singer, writer
Spouse Donna Fowkes (m. 2000)
Children 2
Sibling Prof. Kerryn Phelps
Notable role Trevor Cole in Baywatch

The implication: Phelps built a durable career on Australian terms, not Hollywood ones.

What does Peter Phelps do now?

Current acting roles

Peter Phelps remains active in the Australian entertainment industry. He continues to take on acting roles, appearing in both television and film. One of his most recent projects is the 2022 film The Furnace.

Recent projects

Beyond acting, Phelps has turned his hand to writing. In 2018 he was promoting his book The Bulldog Track, a memoir about his father’s wartime experiences, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet). He also works as a singer.

Other pursuits

Phelps has occasionally directed and taught acting. His versatility keeps him busy, even if he no longer commands the international spotlight of his Baywatch days.

Bottom line: Peter Phelps is not retired—he’s still acting, writing, and singing, with a focus on Australian projects rather than Hollywood.

The pattern: a working actor’s longevity comes from diversifying, not from clinging to one role.

Who is Peter Phelps’ wife?

Marriage to Donna Fowkes

Peter Phelps married Donna Fowkes in 2000. According to The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet), they met in Melbourne while he was filming Stingers; Donna owned a restaurant that the production company hired, and they began talking while she was fetching coffees for the crew.

Family life

The couple have two daughters, Aja Blue (born 2002) and Polly (born 2005), according to Now To Love (Australian lifestyle magazine). Phelps has described himself as a devoted parent, balancing work with raising his children in Sydney.

The upshot

Phelps’s marriage to Donna Fowkes has been a stable anchor through a career that shifted from global fame to local roots. Unlike many actors, he built a family life away from the Hollywood spotlight.

What this means: personal stability allowed Phelps to choose roles on merit, not financial pressure.

How long was Peter Phelps on Baywatch?

Baywatch role as Trevor Cole

Peter Phelps played Trevor Cole on the iconic lifeguard drama Baywatch. His tenure ran from 1990 to 1993, according to Wikipedia (online encyclopedia). He appeared in 62 episodes, making him a recognizable face to international audiences.

Duration of his tenure

Although his character was written out after the first season, Phelps remained in the main credits, as noted by IMDb Biography (film database). The role gave him a career springboard, but he later said Stingers was his defining Australian show.

The implication: Baywatch made Phelps a household name in the 1990s, but he didn’t let it define him—he returned to Australia to build a broader acting repertoire.

Who is Peter Phelps in Home and Away?

Character name

Peter Phelps made a guest appearance on the long-running Australian soap Home and Away. He played a character named Peter, though the role was a minor one.

Duration of appearance

His guest stint was brief, adding to his diverse portfolio of Australian television credits. The exact episode details are not widely documented, but the appearance is listed on his filmography at IMDb (film database).

What this means: even actors with international fame take small roles in Australia’s domestic productions—it’s a sign of a working actor who values steady work over star power.

Where does Peter Phelps live now?

Current residence

Peter Phelps lives in Sydney, Australia. His home is in the Northern Beaches area, a coastal region popular with families and retirees.

Sibling Kerryn Phelps

Contrary to some online claims, Peter Phelps does not have a twin brother. His sibling is Professor Kerryn Phelps, a prominent Australian medical doctor and former politician, as confirmed by Wikipedia (online encyclopedia) and Apple TV (streaming platform). The confusion likely stems from the existence of other Phelps twins in the entertainment world, but Peter is not one of them.

What to watch

The twin myth is persistent online, but verified sources—including Wikipedia and IMDb—show no record of a twin brother. Readers should be cautious of unverified biographical claims circulating on social media.

The catch: a simple Wikipedia check debunks the most persistent rumour about Phelps’s family.

Timeline signal

  • 1960: Born in Sydney, Australia.
  • 1980s: Began acting career in Australian television.
  • 1990–1993: Played Trevor Cole on Baywatch.
  • 1991: Appeared in Point Break.
  • 2000: Married Donna Fowkes.
  • 1998–2004: Starred as Peter Church in Stingers.
  • 2000s: Guest roles in Home and Away, All Saints.
  • 2022: Appeared in the film The Furnace.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

  • Peter Phelps was born on 20 September 1960 in Sydney, Australia (IMDb (film database)).
  • He played Trevor Cole on Baywatch from 1990 to 1993 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
  • He is married to Donna Fowkes since 2000 (The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)).
  • He has two daughters, Aja Blue and Polly (Now To Love (Australian lifestyle magazine)).
  • His sister is Professor Kerryn Phelps (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

What’s unclear

  • Exact details of his current residence beyond the Northern Beaches area.
  • Specific recent projects beyond 2022 (whether he has any upcoming roles).
  • Any details about a first marriage (if one existed).

Quotes

“I hope I live to see a time of greater equality for women.”

— Peter Phelps, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet), 2018

“He was a devoted parent with Donna to daughters Aja Blue and Polly.”

— Excerpt from Now To Love (Australian lifestyle magazine), 2006

Summary

Peter Phelps epitomises the actor who built a durable career without chasing fame. For Australian viewers, his legacy is not just Baywatch but a body of work that includes Stingers, Point Break, and a steady stream of local productions. Peter Phelps proves that a grounded Australian actor can outlast the Hollywood hype.

Additional sources

imdb.com, facebook.com, es.wikipedia.org, watch.plex.tv, culturess.com, de.wikipedia.org

For a more comprehensive look at his early career and personal milestones, you can read this detailed biography of Peter Phelps on Australia Data.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Peter Phelps still acting?

Yes, Peter Phelps continues to act in Australian television and film. His most recent known role was in the 2022 film The Furnace.

How many children does Peter Phelps have?

He has two daughters, Aja Blue and Polly, with his wife Donna Fowkes.

What is Peter Phelps’ most famous role?

Internationally, he is best known for playing Trevor Cole on Baywatch. In Australia, he is also widely recognised for his role as Peter Church in Stingers.

Does Peter Phelps have a twin?

No, the widely reported “twin brother” is a myth. His sibling is Professor Kerryn Phelps, a medical doctor and politician.

What is Peter Phelps’ height?

His height is not officially listed in authoritative sources, but estimates place him around 5 ft 10 in (178 cm).

What is Peter Phelps’ net worth?

Net worth figures are not publicly verified. Estimates vary widely and should be treated as speculation.

Where was Peter Phelps born?

He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

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